Advances in Microbial Ecology was established by the International Commis? sion on Microbial Ecology to provide a vehicle for in-depth, critical, and, it is hoped, provocative reviews on aspects of both applied and basic microbial ecol? ogy. In the five years of its existence, Advances has achieved recognition as a major source of information and inspiration both for practicing and fAdvances in Microbial Ecology was established by the International Commis? sion on Microbial Ecology to provide a vehicle for in-depth, critical, and, it is hoped, provocative reviews on aspects of both applied and basic microbial ecol? ogy. In the five years of its existence, Advances has achieved recognition as a major source of information and inspiration both for practicing and f1 Responses of Fungi to Nutrient-Limiting Conditions and to Inhibitory Substances in Natural Habitats.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Soil Habitat.- 2.1 Energy Budgets.- 2.2 Nitrogen and Minerals.- 2.3 Inhibitory Substances.- 3. Mycostasis.- 3.1 Sensitivities.- 3.2 Annulment.- 3.3 Ecological Significance.- 3.4 Mechanisms of Mycostasis.- 4. An Alternative StrategyCarbonicolous Fungi.- 5. Mycolysis.- 5.1Resistance to Mycolysis.- 5.2Mechanisms of Mycolysis.- 6. Regermination.- 7. Appressorium Formation.- 8. Persistent Structure Formation.- 9. Perspective.- References.- 2 Oligotrophy: Fast and Famine Existence.- 1. Introduction.- 1.1. Isolation of Oligotrophic Bacteria.- 1.2. Oligotrophs as Aerobes.- 2. Proposed Characteristics of Oligotrophs.- 2.1 Nutrient Uptake.- 2.2 Nutrient Management.- 2.3 The Ideal Oligotroph and Its Problems.- 3. Characteristics of Probable Oligotrophs.- 3.1 Arthrobacter.- 3.2 Caulobacter.- 3.3 Chemostat-Selected Oligotrophs.- 4. Concluding Remarks.- References.- 3 Water and Microbial Stress.- 1. General Introduction.- 2. Thermodynamic Considerations.- 2.1 Chemical Potential.- 2.2 Potential Energy of Water and Water Potential.- 3. Matric Potential and Associated Factors.- 3.1 Matric PotentiallÃ%